Genotoxic effects on fish species and water quality parameters of two tributaries of the Sinos River, Southern Brazil

Abstract

The integrated use of water quality parameters and the micronucleus test in fish represent a reliable tool in environmental assessment. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate water physicochemical and microbiological parameters and micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NA) frequencies in peripheral erythrocytes of three native fish species (Bryconamericus iheringii, Diapoma alburnus and Hyphessobrycon luetkenii) captured in the mouth of two tributaries (Ilha River and Paranhana River) of the Sinos River, Southern Brazil. Aluminium, iron and thermotolerant coliforms levels exceeded the limits established by the Brazilian legislation at both sampling sites. There were no differences in MN frequencies between sites and species; however, H. luetkenii presented higher rates of NA in comparison to D. alburnus captured in the Ilha River. Thus, this study provides the first in situ database of DNA damage for these fish species. Furthermore, water quality parameters indicate both sampling sites are under anthropic impacts.